Ner words in this chapter: 4,084
"Talking Japanese"
[Talking English]
'Thinking'
{Talking on the phone/fireplace/two-way-mirror}
{Text message}
–Parseltongue–
Thinking in 3rd person POV/Dream/Memory/Flashback/Others
Letter/Journal/Book/Newspaper
Time change/Date of time
Change of POV
Chapter XXVI
–Oneechan–
Monday, 4 September 1995
TU's POV
Usagi accepted the mirror from Luna-chan, to find Snape-hakase on the other side.
{We need to find one for yourself in a way it doesn't call attention from the Muggles.} The Wizard argued. {Is Kusama-sensei there yet?}
{Upstairs with Harry-kun.} Usagi agreed, glancing up at Chiba-kun who had a raised eyebrow. She blushed and stuttered, looking between him and the mirror. "Chiba-kun… this is…"
{[High-tech mobile phone to call face-to-face.]} Snape-hakase immediately interrupted her and Chiba-kun approached to see Hakase on the other side of the mirror. {Only works with who has the other side of the tech. In this case me and Harry.}
Chiba-kun nodded and sat down beside Usagi to be able to speak to the Wizard.
{Harry-sama gave us quite the scare.}
{I know, I was guiding Harry through his meditation when his strike happened. I immediately ordered Tommy to call for Tsukino-chan.}
Chiba-kun bowed his head.
{Harry-sama was looking better when I finally left him with the Sensei.} The teenager offered and Snape-hakase nodded. {Is there any way we can help? I already asked Kusama-sensei to leave his phone number with each of us for in case another strike happens, still…}
{You two can control his strikes when they happen.} Snape-hakase argued, without mentioning that he meant the magic. {Keep him stable until the Healer arrives.}
Chiba-kun bowed his head, not arguing.
{Was there anything you wanted to tell me, Snape-hakase?} Usagi asked, shyly. After all… with Chiba-kun Snape-hakase couldn't be truthful.
{Yes, I got a call from a former neighbour in Harajuku. Apparently, a foreigner was located walking aimlessly around and brought to the hospital back in July and my neighbours suspected that either I or Harry might know who it is, but only now remembered to warn me. The person is in a coma as we speak.}
A foreigner… could it be…?
Chiba-kun bowed his head and stood.
{I'll go warn Kusama-sensei and we both will check if it's any of Harry-sama's friends.} He agreed. {I've met them before; I'll be able to give a positive recognition. And if it isn't there's no need to worry Harry-sama with false hopes.}
{Thank you, Chiba-san.} Snape-hakase agreed and Chiba-kun climbed the stairs. {You shouldn't make two-way-mirror calls in the middle of the living room, [you Idiot Girl!]}
Usagi turned deep red.
{But… Mama is laying Tommy-kun in my room…} she argued and the older sneered.
{Luckily it was the [Prince] and not your parents. Next time do it in the bathroom.} The Wizard argued. {Go pack some girl clothes. The biggest size that you have, she is 5'5"… 1,65 meters.} He added the last part at Usagi's confusion at the measurements and Usagi looked down at her own body.
{Mama is 1,63, maybe her clothes will fit? Because I'm just 1,50.}
The Wizard nodded.
{Tsukino-chan!} He called when Usagi stood to go fetch Mama's clothes and Usagi looked back down at the mirror. {Magical coma. After Chiba-sama gives a positive ID you need to get him out the room for Kusama-sensei to awake her magically.}
Usagi bowed her head and the Wizard finally closed the call. Usagi run up the stairs, entered her room and picked her bag as Mama read Tommy-kun from his fairy-tales and showed each Hiragana as she did so.
"I'm going to steal some clothes, Mama." Mama looked back with a raised eyebrow. "There's a possibility that a foreigner – that was found back in July and taken to the hospital where she is in a coma – to be Tommy-kun's Godmother. From what Harry-kun told me about her previously if it really is her then she's taller than me."
"Bottom drawer. It's the clothes I less use." Mama agreed. "Bring PJs as well as underwear."
"Just in case she isn't…"
"I won't tell Harry-kun until you say otherwise." Mama agreed. "Good luck."
Usagi nodded and approached, kissing Tommy-kun's top of head.
"Be a good boy to Obāsan." She warned him and Tommy-kun nodded.
Usagi quickly set up the clothes with the biggest sizes that Mama had and then climbed downstairs. Chiba-kun was already putting on his shoes.
"Tsukino-chan?" The other asked as Usagi hurried to put on her jacket and shoes.
"I'm going too."
"I can't drive you two on my motorbike." The other argued.
"You've done it before with me, Harry-kun and Tommy-kun." She argued.
Chiba-kun opened his mouth to argue and then closed it again, making the Wizard smile amused.
"It was when they run from the public hospital." The teenager hurried to justify himself to the doctor.
"I didn't ask." The older argued amused.
They walked out to find Taitō-san parking and bowing his head at Chiba-kun as he left the car, before he frowned at realizing the three were leaving the house.
"Did something happen after Masato-senpai left his shift?"
"Harry-kun didn't feel well." Usagi agreed. "Can we borrow the car? We're going to Harajuku's hospital."
Taitō-san looked at the house and then climbed behind the wheel. They all entered without argument and the blond drove them to the hospital. As Chiba-kun and Kusama-sensei hurried out the car and inside to go check if it was the girl, Jadeite-san let his clothes shift back into his grey tracksuit and looked back at Usagi as he went to park the car.
"Yōma?" He demanded as he got ready for an attack.
"Witch. Snape-hakase called. He said that a foreigner was found in July and that his neighbours had called to ask if he knew her. He was lying because Chiba-kun was with me." [Lord] "Marvolo-sama must have planted Hermione-chan at the hospital – after being certain that she had survived the strike – in a way that Aurors wouldn't ask questions."
Jadeite-san breathed relieved.
"I still don't like that you bring Prince-sama into possible danger."
"I'm sorry, but he was the only one out of all of us who could recognize her."
"I met them. I was there when the Obasan stroke us." Jadeite offered and finally parked, he shifted himself back into his human-self and the two left, hurrying inside the hospital and followed Chiba-kun into the hospital room where Kusama-sensei was talking with the Muggle Doctors. "Granger Hermione." Taitō-san put in as soon as he saw the girl. "That's her name."
"How do you know?" The Muggle Doctor asked.
"She is the godmother of the child I bodyguard." The Knight replied. "I was also struck when she was. Luckily Kusama-sensei healed me right away."
"Granger-chan must have been able to get up and leave the house and we suspected that she had been kidnaped like the others were." Kusama-sensei offered.
The Doctor hummed and Usagi looked at Chiba-kun pointedly, who nodded and left with the Doctor to properly take care of Hermione-chan's paperwork.
"Snape-hakase said that she most likely would be under a magical coma." Usagi explained.
Kusama-sensei nodded at Usagi, as Taitō-san stayed by the door to keep an eye out.
"How she managed to leave the house and walk long enough to be found and brought into a Muggle hospital while under a sleeping spell is a wonder." The Healer argued and approached the girl, checking her magically. "Good side is that the Muggles actually healed the physical side-effects of the curses that Lestrange-san had used on Granger-chan but the Magical Coma will keep her from being able to walk for a good while." He put in halfway. "Yes, she is good enough to wake-up."
Kusama-sensei picked his wand and pointed at Hermione-chan's chest and started chanting. Taitō-san looked out and then signalled at Usagi, who hurried out and went to delay the returning group. Finally, when Usagi stopped having what to tell about Hermione-chan – she didn't know that much about her backstory to fill in her paperwork after all – Taitō-san opened the hospital's room's door.
"Granger-chan's awakening."
The Doctor immediately hurried inside and joined Kusama-sensei.
"She doesn't speak Japanese." Usagi warned from the entrance and the Wizard nodded, starting to speak soothingly to the scared girl in English. Usagi took a deep breath and then approached the bed, to talk directly to the brunette girl. [Hello, my name is Usagi. I am] "Potter Harry-kun"['s friend.]
Hermione-chan immediately looked at Usagi and then nodded.
[Blonde bunny-ponytails.] She rasped out. [Harry told me about you.]
Chiba-kun choked back a laugh, making Usagi glare at him before she showed the bag with clothes.
[I bring clothes.] She offered to the best of her abilities.
[Thank you.] Hermione-chan nodded and Chiba-kun left the room with Taitō-san. [My parents?]
Usagi shook her head and the girl closed her eyes with strength to hold back her tears.
[I'm sorry. Only you.]
Hermione-chan nodded and let Kusama-sensei and Usagi help her change from the hospital cloth into pyjamas and a night robe.
"I'll set up the transference into my clinic." The Wizard offered, only to immediately translate for the brunette girl's sake.
After the two girls were left alone, Usagi looked at the closed door to be certain and then back at the girl.
[Lestrange Bellatrix-san act against Lord Marvolo-sama's law.] She struggled to say. [Lord Marvolo-sama kill Lestrange-san.]
[You Know Who?] Hermione-chan asked.
[Dark Lord.] Usagi offered uncertain and Hermione-chan nodded.
[How did Bellatrix…?]
"I believe it was…" [Professor Dumbledore-san?]
[Harry and Tommy?]
[Safe.] Usagi quickly offered and Hermione-chan breathed relieved. [Sorry. No much Engrish.]
Hermione-chan shook her head.
[It's perfect.] She argued. [I will be worse in Japanese.] She offered, spelling each word for Usagi's sake.
Not speaking fast like the twins and Jordan-kun sometimes did. Which showed that she knew she could speak in English with them but she had to be direct.
[Not worse…] Usagi tried to think how to say it, "Hermione-chan" Usagi signalled one hand and the girl nodded and Usagi showed another hand way lower. "Weasley-kun, Jordan-kun." Hermione-chan chuckled, obviously understanding. "I…" [I understand Hermione-chan.]
[But not the boys.] Hermione-chan agreed. [Harry sent letters. Explained that calm, pronounce each word and direct.]
Usagi nodded and there was a knock, she stood – leaving Hermione-chan laying down on the hospital bed – and went to open it where Kusama-sensei was wheeling a wheelchair inside.
[Ready when you are, Miss Granger.] The Wizard offered.
Hermione-chan was helped by the Wizard to sit and then to move into the wheelchair, before they left the room. Chiba-kun was waiting them by the entrance and walked with them outside for Usagi to see Taitō-san's car parked just outside the frontdoors. Usagi opened the car's backdoors and Chiba-kun helped moving the British girl into the backseats, Usagi siting down on one side and Kusama-sensei on the other with Chiba-kun sitting on the hanger seat.
[You know Taitō-san already.] Usagi introduced and Hermione-chan nodded. [Harry-kun's…] "how do I say bodyguard, Chiba-kun?"
[Bodyguard.] Chiba-kun offered. [Doctor Kusama-sensei is the private doctor that Harry-sama goes to since there was the incident with Tommy-kun at the public hospital.] He added and Hermione-chan nodded, understanding that Kusama-sensei was magical.
[Taitō-san no English.] Usagi explained when the Knight obviously looked at the group unsure as he drove.
[How do I apologize?] Hermione-chan asked and Kusama-sensei replied, as he held the girl's wrist and magically checked her. "I'm sorry," [Taitou-san.] She repeated to the best of her abilities.
The blond nodded back and finally parked before the private magical clinic. Kusama-sensei picked her up and brought her inside, before Taitō-san drove them to Minato-ku. Mama was outside when they arrived and raised a questioning eyebrow. Usagi nodded.
"It's Granger Hermione-chan. Harry-kun's English sister and Tommy-kun's godmother." Usagi agreed.
Mama nodded.
"I'll go tell Harry-kun the good news. How is she?"
"Talking. We moved her to Kusama-sensei's clinic after he managed to wake her up. With the attack and with her identity being found it's best if she stays in the private clinic." Chiba-kun put in. "I should head home myself. Tomorrow is a school day."
Usagi turned deep red.
"I'll drive you." Taitō-san argued. "No argument. I saw you barely managing to keep your eyes open during the ride back. I won't let you drive in a motorbike in this state."
Chiba-kun bowed his head and entered the car, before the Knight drove him away. Usagi followed Mama inside where Papa was babysitting the whining Tommy-kun.
"Tommy-kun! I told you to be good to Obāsan. You should be asleep already instead of bothering Ojīsan." She immediately reprimanded.
"Obachan!" Tommy-kun offered his arms and Usagi approached, picking him up. Only for the boy to immediately fall asleep.
Usagi looked down at the boy and then up at her parents, embarrassed that he had caused them such trouble only to immediately calm down with her.
"Go put him in his cot and get to bed." Mama agreed. "Me and Papa will speak with Harry-kun."
Usagi nodded and climbed.
–O&SM–
Tuesday, 5 September 1995
HJP's POV
Harry finished classes, jumped on his bicycle and then rode at all velocity to the private clinic. He entered and the Witch at the entrance immediately recognized him.
"Kusama-sensei said you might pass by." She offered and then guided him into a private room where Hermione was sitting down on a hospital-armchair with a book in her hands as she obviously did her best to read out loud.
Harry scoffed, of course Hermione would've be studying instead of resting.
[Hermione.] He called and the girl looked up only to smile. Harry bowed his head at the Mediwitch, who left the two alone, and entered, pulled from a chair and sat before Hermione. [Usagi told me that she told you what really happened.]
[Professor Dumbledore was tracking everything I did.] Hermione agreed sadly.
[I'm sorry.] Harry started only for Hermione to move forward and slap him with the book. [Wha…?] He started, not commenting on the weak slap.
[I should be the one to apology as I put you and Tommy at risk!] Hermione reprimanded, making Harry blush. [All of us were responsible. Do I miss my parents? Deeply. I believe it hasn't yet really sunk in. But it was still my fault in part for not being careful with my own mail. It is also fault on the Aurors for not checking us at the border control. And on Professor Dumbledore for putting me in jeopardy enough for Bellatrix to realize that the way to find you was through me. Everyone is to blame.]
Harry nodded shyly.
[Thanks, I needed that.] He agreed embarrassed. [You know… we did a mass in honour of all of you. The grandfather of one of the Sailor Guardians is a Priest and they did the whole thing of wishing the soul a good farewell.]
Hermione hummed.
[I'm sorry I missed my own mass.] She agreed.
[Your candle didn't burn.] Harry offered. [It should have been a sign for me but I ignored it… it hurt too much.]
Hermione sighed and opened her arms and Harry leaned forward, hugging her body with his head in her chest.
[You actually hug back.] Hermione pointed out through hiccups and Harry choked back his own tears at the fact that she was actually crying.
[Usagi-chan is a hugger. Her baby brother taught me for my own mental stability.] He agreed and Hermione started to comb with her weak hand through his hair. [I thought I had lost you too.]
[I thought I was a goner.] Hermione agreed.
There was a knock on the door and Harry immediately sat on the chair again, cleaning his glasses magically.
"Who is it?"
"Tsukino Usagi, Chiba-kun and Tommy-kun." Usagi offered from outside the room.
[Your godson has arrived.] Harry put in and picked a blanket, pulling over Hermione's lap to give her some decency in her Muggle PJs look. He stood and went to open the door, letting the three inside. "Should I have a talk with you over keep picking up and ringing my girlfriend?" Harry added to Mamoru as Sanjōin leaned against the wall in the corridor.
Usagi stuttered as Mamoru smiled amused.
[My apologies, Lord Harry-sama.] He agreed mockingly and Harry mock-glared. [Miss Granger-chan, how do you feel today?]
[I can stay sitting down without the help of pillows.] Hermione offered. [Who's that?]
Harry looked at who Hermione was signalling to see Sanjōin.
[Masato Sanjouin. Or in the Japanese way Sanjouin Masato.] Harry introduced and signalled the Knight to straighten. [My second bodyguard. The only one officially my bodyguard.] Hermione bowed her head. "Granger Hermione, my English…" Harry looked at Mamoru. [How do I say older sister?]
"Aneue or Oneesan, Oneechan in this case." Mamoru offered.
"So… Hermione-oneechan?" Harry wondered and Mamoru nodded. [That's a mouthful.] He turned again towards Sanjōin. "This is my English Oneechan."
Sanjōin bowed his head at Hermione, who nodded hers back, before he closed the door to give them privacy.
[How is younger brother?] Hermione asked.
"Otōto." Usagi offered. [Just…] she looked back at Harry who raised an eyebrow, daring her to ask for help. [Just Otōto, no San, chan or sama needed.]
Harry patted her top of the head as if to congratulate her, making Tommy chuckle as Usagi pouted.
[I tutor Usagi-chan English an hour a day.] Harry offered as explanation towards Hermione, who nodded.
Mamoru picked Tommy from Usagi and then approached Hermione, sitting on the chair Harry had emptied and sat the boy on his lap facing the girl close enough for Hermione but still on his own lap to don't put too much height on her weakened body.
"Can you say Oneechan?" Mamoru asked Tommy, who limited to babble back mockingly. "Say after me: O-nee-chan."
Tommy looked at Mamoru and Harry wondered if he would have to intervene only for the boy to actually humour the teenager.
"Neeeeee-chaaaaan." He parroted pronouncing the words like Mamoru, making them all laugh.
"That's it, Tommy-kun. Now, this is Hermione-oneechan." Mamoru presented. [Your godmother.]
"Neechan." Tommy agreed and offered the plushie. "Papa."
Harry face-palmed himself.
"Usually when you call an older than you teenager or in their twenties person you say their name and then Oniisan or Oneesan." Usagi explained. "Chiba-kun is making sure that Tommy-kun starts calling Hermione-chan 'accordingly'."
"Obasan and Ojisan is what you usually call an older woman or man. Even if it means" [aunt and uncle.] Mamoru agreed, before adding to Hermione. [Tommy-kun calls Tsukino-chan by Auntie in Japanese that is also what we call an older woman.]
Hermione snorted.
[Mamoru Chiba-kun is in favour that Tommy should call Usagi-chan by Usagi-oneechan.] Harry offered. [Which is why he just made sure to be the one introducing you two.]
[Proper.] Usagi offered.
[Should we start calling you Mamoru-oniisan?] Harry asked and Tommy start doing his best at saying Niichan, making them all laugh as Mamoru scoffed.
[Tommy-kun yes, you three no.] Mamoru argued. [Besides as your girlfriend, shouldn't you use a more maternal-terminology for Tsukino-chan when around Tommy-kun?]
Hermione immediately turned towards Harry, wide-eyed.
[In Japan surname is what everyone calls each other, plus san, chan, kun and sama instead of Mr, Mrs and Miss.] Harry offered to Hermione, who nodded. [Personal name is only to family and close friends. Besides the way to introduce one-self being surname then name.]
[Granger Hermione.] Hermione agreed.
[Usagi-chan usually immediately calls people by first name. Except Chiba Mamoru-kun.]
[Why not?]
Mamoru's lips thinned.
[We only become friends when Tommy-kun got sick.] He explained. [Me and Tsukino-chan would always insult each other and we only stopped when she introduced me her boyfriend: Lord English-sama.]
Hermione immediately understood why Harry had taken this route of conversation instead of introducing Usagi as girlfriend.
[That's Otouto. Always there to save the day.] She put in in a way that even Usagi would've understand. Which made Usagi laugh, Mamoru chuckle and Tommy grumble. [I take it that Tommy doesn't approve of your saving people thing.]
[Takes after you on that.] Harry agreed only for Sanjōin to knock on the door before opening. "What is it?"
"Senseis are saying that visiting hour has ended. More than an hour can be harmful."
Harry turned to explain to Hermione, but already Mamoru was explaining to the girl. Hermione nodded and gave Tommy his plushie back. Usagi patted Harry's shoulder before with a nod at Hermione she and Marvolo left, for Harry to say his goodbyes alone.
[Mr Chiba likes Usagi?] Hermione asked.
[Prince reborn form. We haven't woken him up yet. Still, it's best for him to believe that I am Usagi-chan's boyfriend. Keeps his attention away from courting her.] Harry explained and approached to kiss her forehead. [If I had someone I would have told you.]
Hermione nodded.
[I sure hope so. Tomorrow can you bring me empty notebooks and pencils? I need to practice the new abecedary.]
[Study first Hiragana, it's the base. Then there's Kanji. And Katakana which is for foreign words (like our names).] Harry explained and Hermione smiled thankfully. [Roman characters – or our abecedary – is called Romaji.]
[Tomorrow bring me how to actually write that and all of our names.]
Harry turned deep red at imagining himself actually writing the names, before he nodded and, after a hug, he left the room.
"I like her." Usagi offered when Harry joined their side at the frontdoors.
"She wants notebooks with how to write our names in both Kanji and Romaji. As well as lines in Hiragana and Romaji for her to start studying." Harry put in towards Mamoru, who nodded. "She is just like Ami-chan. Actually Hermi-oneechan can be even worse. When I joined Ami-chan to our group I couldn't help but think of Hermi-oneechan." He added towards Usagi, who laughed.
"I'll write down all the girls', mine, Motoki-kun's and the bodyguards' names. As well as your fellow brits Katakana-version of their names." Mamoru offered. "As well as some lines in Romaji and their meaning in English for her to practice."
"Thank you, Mamoru-kun."
Mamoru nodded his head back as they entered Taitō's car instead of Sanjōin's.
"Taitō-san gave you permission to use his car?" Harry wondered.
"Tsukino-okusan said that Potter-kun wasn't riding in my car." The Knight argued.
"Did you ask the other's permission?" He wondered yet again and the older smirked, making him groan. "One day you two will fight over cars and I won't be there to clean your wounds again." He snapped with a huff.
"You will and you know it." Usagi argued, making Mamoru chuckle from his place in the passenger seat.
"Although, Harry-sama is right, Sanjōin-san." Mamoru put in. "You should buy an economic car instead."
The Knight looked at his Prince and then back to the road. Unlike each time Harry commented on it, he didn't argue. It amused Harry how as much of a mess as the two Shitennō might be, they would always back down when Mamoru would've look their way.
(TBC)
Next chapter: Endymion & Serenity
~Isys